Quite a series we have on our hands here. Another hard fought, close game, where a team comes back from two goals down (twice this time) to eventually win the game. If the first game showed the Jackets can hang with the Penguins in a series, this game showed they could pull off the upset. The Jackets now have home ice advantage, Bobrovsky hasn’t stolen a game yet, and Fleury hasn’t choked away a game yet. If anything, the goaltending battle has been in Pittsburgh’s favor so far. A stinker from Fleury and Bob stealing a victory would theoretically give the Jackets a dynamite chance at three wins this series (should they not happen in the same game). Couple that with a home win or two, and you have the recipe for an upset. A long way to go to get that far, but it continues tonight at Nationwide Arena. Let’s all get amped up for tonight with a look back at all the goals in the Jackets first ever playoff victory. Brian Gibbons from Matt Niskanen and Sidney Crosby, 1-0 Penguins
Not too much to see on a bit of a fluky one here. But watch Ryan Murray on Sidney Crosby. One on one rush and the kid (I mean Murray) handles it like a champ, keeps Crosby to the outside and turns what could have been a dangerous play into what should have been a harmless play. Umberger could be a little quicker making the read on Niskanen and getting out there, but it wasn’t even a very dangerous shot until it was tipped.
Brian Gibbons from Paul Martin and Brooks Orpik, 2-0 Penguins
Aside from Brian Gibbons being fast (Pens Coach Dan Bylsma says Gibbons is the fastest player on the Penguins) and James Wisniewski being not so fast, watch Jack Johnson here. I have no idea what read he is making there. I think he’s maybe thinking Martin missed the puck and it is coming around the boards? Not really sure. Johnson was the weakside defensemen there, and he should be the one responsible for getting back but is so far away from the play he isn’t even a factor.
Ryan Johansen from David Savard and Ryan Murray, 2-1 Penguins
The Blue Jackets continue to keep Marc-Andre Fleury moving on the powerplay. In just that short clip the puck moves from one side of the ice to another nearly five times before Johansen scores. It’s a very nice shot, but a primary reason it goes in is due to Fleury being just off positionally, which opens up space for Joey to beat him.
Matt Niskanen from Paul Martin and Sidney Crosby, 3-1 Penguins
The Jackets were actually fine here, and this predominantly comes about because of a strange hop. Crosby passes to Martin, but it hops over his stick. Calvert had jumped to Martin, which is the right read there. If Martin handles the pass, Calvert probably knocks it away from him, and may have gotten a scoring chance out of it. Instead, it takes a bounce, but settles down in time for Niskanen to get a shot off with Chris Kunitz screening Sergei Bobrovsky.
Matt Calvert from Artem Anisimov and David Savard, 3-2 Penguins
What more is there to say about this one? It highlights the speed of the Jackets, as a moderately dangerous situation (a two on one with a backchecker) becomes a very dangerous situation (a clean three on one), as Jack Johnson and Artem Anisimov hustle up into the play. This greatly changes the way that both Niskanen and Fleury can play the rush. Both play pass more than shot, and Matty Calvert rips a snipe shelf. Beauty.
Jack Johnson from Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner, 3-3 tie
More powerplay puck movement getting Fleury going again, but he loses track of the rebound (another big weakness of his). Two things here: the passes by James Wisniewski (to Johansen) and Joey (to Boone) were fantastic little plays. They were somewhat unexpected, as they went back against the way the play was moving. Pens penalty killer Craig Adams was expecting Wiz to move the puck across to Johnson, and his curl in that direction gets him a little out of position when Wiz goes back up the boards to the Johan. Orpik plays very aggressively on Johansen, but I think most of the defenders were expecting him to try and thread it across to Johnson. Instead Boone gets a shot off, Fleury loses the rebound and Johnson pounces. I’ve been very hard on Johnson in the past, but both the second (his read, effort, and speed make it a three on one) and third goals (his movemoent on the backside opens up the middle of the box for Boone’s shot) of this game don’t come without some great work by him.
MATT CALVERT FROM CAM ATKINSON AND BRANDON DUBINSKY, 4-3 JACKETS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brandon Dubinsky is a beast. He just shrugs off Jussi Jokinen like he’s a peewee. Great work from both Cam and Matty to find space once Dubi sheds Jokinen. Cam also gets his shot off quickly, something he hasn’t always been very good at doing. Really though, what in the hell are Lee Stempniak, James Neal, and Kris Letang doing? Letang does fine work at first on Calvert, but he is very nonchalant getting back to the net. When he does get back there, he just puck watches like crazy and doesn’t pick up anyone or get in any passing or shooting lanes. So basically nothing is what he does. Part of the reason for this is Neal and Stempniak have dropped in to “help” out down low. Well this becomes nothing instantly is Neal and Stempniak do their jobs. All five (FIVE!) Pens players are around the net just before the goal.
Look at that image. Jokinen is still getting to his feet. Orpik is playing the pass. No judgment on either of them. The other three? Well there are two Jackets forwards there, and none of the Pens forwards pick up anyone. If Neal finds Atkinson and Stempniak picks up Calvert, well this is a nothing play that doesn’t even end up as a shot on goal. Hell, if one of those three guys makes any effort to pick up either of the two Jackets, this isn’t a goal. Instead, they all puck watch to the nth degree, and the Jackets steal home ice advantage.
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